Eid Mubarak everyone!!! I hope everyone had a wonderful Ramadhan and an even better Eid!!!

Edited:

Published: Monday, June 26th 2017 3:32 pm

        "Order up!"

        I quickly finished wrapping the sandwich and placing it on a plate right when one of the waiters came to claim it. The impatient girl waiting for it groaned in relief and proceeded to roll her eyes at the lot of us before taking a seat at one of the tables. As much as I want to say that this is the only rude customer today, I would be lying. Before I had even gotten in the back and grabbed my apron, I had to push pass a line of customers going out of the door, which isn't as unusual as it sounds.

        Lou's deli has always been known around major areas of Florida, one major one being Miami. If we don't have a large rush crowd of people every day at practically every hour of the day, that would be unusual and cause problems in our working order.

        "My mother would smack my mouth for even thinking about being that rude," Gloria, one of the deli's oldest in age worker seethed as she cooked some of the chicken and turkey on top of the stove. The smell alone had my mouth watering and begging to have a taste. The juices of the meat sizzled and fried on the stove as she moved it around almost gracefully. "I don't know how you're still working like that," Gloria added, nodding towards my splint.

As if trying to figure out what she was talking about, I momentarily stopped making one of the many sandwiches on my list. I held up my arm with a raised eyebrow. "This?"

"Yes child," Gloria chuckled at my ditziness and nodded. "Your arm. You were just at the hospital just a few days ago. Now you're working with one hand."

"My go to snack has always been a sandwich, and sometimes I would make them with one hand," I said, recalling that time when I was home alone. My parents had gone out for a date night and hadn't left any food for me. The only option I had was ice cream and sandwiches, so I chose both. The one handed trick is the cause of my boredom. "I've had a lot of practice growing up."

"Well you're doing a good job," Gloria placed another one of her panini specials on the counter and dusted her hands on her apron. "We need more bread. Did the new shipment come in yet?"

"Just this morning," Brenda, a co worker and new manager of ours popped out from the back with a box set in each of her hands. She sat them down on one of the clear tables and shook her head to get the hair out of her face. "This place is swamped. Isn't it great?!"

"Great..." Gloria trailed off sarcastically and took out a few pieces of bread from one of the boxes to replace the pieces that had run out. The lines had gone down only a few since I had arrived this morning, but the time now was almost seven and a lot of the students around the area were coming in groups and ordering out more and more. The more the customers the better the business but we were understaffed. Just last week we had lost three employees in the span of two days, which left a handful of us managing everything else. One of the people who quit was the manager, and because Brenda had more experience than the rest of us, she was promoted in her place.

"It is great!" Brenda repeated with a wide smile. She pulled up a stool to the table she set the boxes on and began writing on a piece of paper.

"What's that?" I questioned, allowing the suspense to get the best of me.

"Well," Brenda cleared her throat. "My boss, the big boss, has been hounding me to put up this sign," She paused to hold up what she had been writing on, and I wasn't surprised to see that it was a 'help wanted' sign. Quite frankly it was long over due. We may have just lost a few members last week, but the deli has been struggling ever since. "I've been cleared to hire six more people, at least four. If not..." She pursed her lips together and looked down at the ground.

The sudden pause caused Gloria and a few others to stop what they were doing and turn around.

"If not what?" Gloria asked.

Brenda cleared her threat awkwardly and set the sign back down on the table. "If not then we may have to close down this location. It doesn't make sense to me either because we get really good business every day, but it's not my decision."

         I placed my hand on the table to steady myself and scoffed. She's right, it doesn't make sense. I could look now and see that business was still going good as usual. The line was no longer going out the door, but it was pretty close to it. This is my first job and it happens to be a really good one. When I had gotten the call back I was surprised to have landed such a great offer. I had left it in Allahs hands and wasn't disappointed with the outcome. I just hoped it would last a lot longer than this.

        "I'm taking my break," Gloria abruptly said and began to take off her gloves. Brenda waved her off on her way to the front of the store to hang her sign. "This is what happens when a child is the boss," She had seethed to me once Brenda was no longer in sight. She was outside now, taping the sign to the door. "She doesn't fight for us and our families. We must feed them with the money we make. How can we do that if we're jobless?"

        "She may be in college but she's smart," I defended, trying to find the best way to plead her case. As a college student myself, I could tell how hard Brenda is trying to make this managing gig work and juggle school. So far she has done a good job, but then again I agree with Gloria. I don't have a family to feed, but this job is way better than any ordinary one.

        I understand that Brenda is trying her best with the time she was given, but in all honesty, if she can't do the job, someone else should be appointed in her place.

       "We'll see," Gloria scoffed and took out a pack of cigarettes from her pocket. She then took off her apron, hung it up, and turned to me. "I bet you wish you could have one of these right about now."

        I threw my head back and chuckled a little at the joke she tried, but I didn't find any of it funny. Ever since I met her I realized that Gloria is one of those people who like to make jokes, but sometimes they come off very offensive. The joke she just told was one of the milder ones that she has done. Usually she makes sly jokes about pork, partying, and asking if I'm hot in my hijab. No one truly realizes how much self restraint they have until they're put in a position with someone who thinks racist and rude jokes are funny.

        "Just one puff?" She raised an eyebrow and held up a cigarette in front of my face. I looked over at Brenda who had just come back in from outside. She stopped what she was doing and kept her eyes trained on Gloria. "I'm sure your God won't mind with the situation we're put in."

        "You can't have those around the food or even in the building," Brenda announced with a hand on her hip. She lifted her glasses up from sliding down and pointed towards the back door. "You can take it out there, Gloria."

        "It's just a little fun, child, relax," Gloria said, placing the cigarette box back in her pocket and turning to me. "If you change your mind, I'll be in the back," she nodded to the back. "I'll try not to finish the whole box."

        "Uh huh," I smiled faintly at her and waited until she was out of the door. I slid the sandwich plate I had just finished preparing on the counter and took a step back from the table. "It's not even her lunch break," I groaned under my breath, but Brenda heard me.

        "Yeah, I know," She scoffed. She picked up her own apron from the hook, slid on some gloves, and stood besides me. "But if it means she's outside for at least a few minutes, I'm fine with that. Now what's next?"

        "Pastrami plate, no mayo or onions," I read off of the paper from the orders board.

        "Okey dokie," Brenda nodded at me and pulled out a fresh plate and the vegetables to go on top. I watched as she made each sandwich faster than the last before joining her. She was the one who trained me when I first started working here so that's no surprise. Every sandwich looked perfect and no one complained about something missing or not added. She got along great with the waiters and customers and knows how to do her job. I could see now why she was appointed manager. Not just by luck or someone quitting, but by experience.

        My only hope is that that experience keeps us from being closed down. Without even realizing, the time had gone by and now it was time to close. Gloria and Marie, one of the waiters, locked the front door and began to wipe down the tables. I stayed in the back with Brenda and the rest of the waiters doing inventory and wiping down the sandwich making tables.

        "I can do this job," Brenda suddenly said once she had thrown away a piece of paper and sat down on one of the stools. She had hair coming out of her small bun that consisted of her short brown hair, and her eyes looked almost bloodshot. Her school bag is on the floor next to her waiting to be picked up. "I really want to do it because I need the money to get through my classes. I know everyone thinks I'll fail."

"The only opinion that matters is your own," Was my attempt to cheer her up. I threw away the rag I was using to wipe down the table and grabbed my own bag from its hook, then sat down besides her.

"Yeah, I know," She looked down at her fingers that she was intertwining together and sniffed. "Great, now I'm getting sick."

I smiled. "Since we're both in college I won't lie to you. Work and school and going to be tough."

"I don't blame you for not wanting to smoke," She suddenly said, and I shook my head with a smile. "Seriously! That stuff is bad for you and smells horrible," She exclaimed and we both laughed. I couldn't argue with that. I've never liked the smell of cigarettes or the thoughts of what the smoking habits does to a person.

"Uh, Jamila," Marie came into the back with a brown in hand and pointed her thumb in the direction of the front door. "Someone is here for you."

I looked over to see none other than Tehreem stood in front of the door with her eyes glared at me. My own eyes widened as I reached into my bag to look for phone, but came up empty. That also happened to be the point that Tehreem held up said phone for me to see with a shake of her head. Oh.

***
February 9th 2018

"My baby!" I squealed in my seat as Jafar picked up my niece and placed her on his lap. She began jumping around once she saw me, making me miss her more. The last time I had seen them feels like a lifetime ago and it's heartbreaking. From the time Hayat had come into this world, I have spent no more than two months around her and that's not long for someone who needs an eternity of the almost two year old. I can't even begin to believe how time has passed almost two years to her birthday. It feels like I was just there to babysit her while my brother and sister celebrated their anniversary.

"Meela!" She jumped up, clapping her hands and showing her few teeth. As she moved, her curls fell into her face, covering up her beautiful blue-grey eyes that she inherited from both her mother and father.

"I miss you ladybug! I need to go to New York and see you!"

"It has only been a few months," Jafar laughed and pulled Hayat back when she began tapping on the laptop. "We'll be back for her birthday in a few months. Surely you can wait."

"But I can't," I whined and went to lean on my arm, but realizing that it had a brace and is still sore stopped me.

"Your hand hurting you again?" Jafar asked as if noticing my right had grabbed my left in pain. I nodded with a sour look on my face as I brought it closer to me.

       "More than I thought it would, honestly," I admitted and gave a sigh, blowing a piece of my scarf in the process. It wasn't as bad as it was a few days ago, but the pain itself hadn't lightened that much. "I can type with one hand, but I prefer two."

        "How is school going? You better be studying hard and not making googly eyes at boys."

        "Wow, you even sound like a father," I laughed and focused my eyes on Hayat who was still trying to reach for the computer. "Doesn't he, Ladybug?"

         "Aah!" She squeaked again, causing my smile to broaden at how happy and adorable she is.

        "Also I want–" I stopped mid sentence when I saw a figure walk past my room and down the hallway. "I'll be right back. Don't go away!" Without waiting for his answer, I got up from my bed and started down the hall and to the only open door. The bathroom.

        Upon entering I could hear the sound of vomiting and uncontrollable coughing. Amna lent over the toilet while holding her scarf behind her.

        "Oh my God!" I shut my mouth and cursed to myself once realizing I was standing inside of the bathroom and uttered those words. Amna flinched at the sound of my voice and grabbed some tissue to wipe her mouth before turning around to me.

        "What are you doing in here? Why are you home?"

       "I do live here too you know," I pointed out and moved closer into the bathroom. Amna flushed the toilet and sat down on it with her head hung low. "Are you sick?"

       "No, I uh..."She looked around as if to find her words, and eventually she did. "My friends and I ate some bad cafeteria food. I guess it had a delay on my stomach."

        "Y'know I hated cafeteria food too," I grimaced at the thought of high school and the food that they served. Although I would be lying if I said I didn't like the macadamia nut cookies and pizza Friday's. "Drink some ginger ale and lay down for a while. And don't scare me like that! I thought you were a jinn!"

        "Sorry, won't happen again," She said with a nod and I began walking out of the bathroom and towards my own room, but not before giving her one last look. She stayed in the position that she was in for a few seconds before covering her face with her hands and mumbling something to herself. I decided that it was my time to leave and give her some privacy.

        "Thank you for not leaving," I said to Jafar once I sat back down at my desk. "Where's my Ladybug?"

        "With her mommy. You prefer my daughter over me?"

        "Do you want to know the truth?" I raised an eyebrow with a smirk and he sighed, slumping his shoulders. "You've heard about me, now I want to know about you before I have to go and we don't talk for another two weeks was it?"

        "You know it's been pretty busy with work, Mill's. I haven't forgotten about you."

"I know, I was just joking. But I do miss you Ayah and Ladybugs. If you sent her down here to me without you two I would be okay with that too."

"I'll pretend I'm not jealous of a one year old," He slumped even more and I laughed.

Pressing the home button to my phone to check the time, I cursed to myself yet again as I realized that I was cutting it close to the time Inaya said she would be here to pick me up. I really have to stop cursing myself. After a lot of convincing and begging on her part, Inayah had gotten me to agree to probably one of my worst decisions this month...and it's only the ninth. Alas she had gotten her way and convinced me to go to the game because she is such a die hard fan.

"You have to be somewhere," I looked up at Jafar and shrugged at his question. He scrunched his eyebrows in confusion at me and crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm guessing you don't want to go. Where to?"

"If I say where you're not gonna want me to go either," I said truthfully, knowing my brother. I've always hated keeping secrets from people close to me, and I'm very close to my brother.

"Where?" He insisted.

"A basketball game. A college one."

"Why wouldn't I want you to..."He began to ask then made an 'o' shape with his mouth. "Oh. Why would you go there?"

"Inayah is a big fan of the team and she wants me to tag along," I said, but he didn't look very convinced of my story. So I sighed. "She doesn't even know about that part of my life. Even if she did, she wouldn't make me go. You think I'm making a really bad decision don't you?"

"No," Jafar sat up in his seat and shrugged. "I trust you, Mills. You know right from wrong and how to handle different situations it find yourself in."

"If only you said this two years ago," I joked.

"You are a completely different person than you were two years ago, Mills. You're smarter and more mature now. Before I would never want you to put yourself out there and get hurt again. Do you trust yourself?"

Did I? I know before I wouldn't have been able to decline a text or call without going through hell and back to decide whether to hit decline. But I still don't feel like I fully trust myself just yet.

"More than before," I answered.

"That's good. Always put in as much effort as you can to trust yourself. You're the only one that truly has your own back sometimes."

"I'm not all the way there, but I'm getting there. Talk to you later?" I asked and he nodded. "Give my love please!"

"Always. Love you Mills."

"I love you too," I repeated and ended the call.

***
A/N
Eid Mubarak to you all!!!
While most of you have already begun to celebrate yesterday, my Eid has just begun. I am very late with this update and planned to post it this morning, but editing got in the way of that. I hope all of you have an amazing time with your friends and family and the thought of this amazing day. Please keep me and my family in your du'aas!!!